Money Conscious

Sunday evening I was talking with two of my girlfriends about budgeting.  I have never considered myself a spender, but these days with the new house, two kids and maintaining a home in general, I find that I do spend a lot of money.  We used to have a budget - a long time ago - but we were never very strict about it because we always found ourselves with extra cash in the bank.  Therefore, we didn't have to stick to the budget.  We're both money conscious and spend our money carefully for the most part.  After re-evaluating, however, I feel that it is necessary to create a budget once again.  After all, if there is a smarter way to spend our money, I want to partake in that.  So my questions go out to you blog readers.  

1. Do you have a budget?

2. Do you keep to it?

3. How do you keep to it? (ie. envelope system, spend the same amount every month on things, etc?)

4. How time consuming is this for you?

On the same subject, there are so many options out there on how to propose/keep a budget - Microsoft Money, Quicken, Excel.  What is best?  We used to do it the old school way with pen and paper.  I found our old budget recently from when we were newlyweds (7 years ago) and boy have times changed!  What do you use or recommend and why?

*Please note picture above is from the internet and probably from some state budget as it involves millions of dollars.  Clearly not what my spreadsheet would look like!

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

My mom & Malena - her best friend from Mexico City
Me & Ana all grown up!

I went to San Antonio this past weekend to celebrate my brother, Christian's 10th birthday and to attend a dear high school friend's wedding.  Christian had a great time picking out his menu for the day.  For breakfast he opted for donuts and for dinner he opted for cream of carrot soup, beef ribs and chocolate chip mint ice cream for dessert.  Can you tell he's a guy?  No woman would serve that menu!  We gave Christian Mars Legos which were a big hit.  Did you know that there many different kinds of legos?  Not just the red/blue/yellow kind.  Nowadays there are Mars, Batman, Castle, and all sorts of legos.  And let me tell you they are not cheap!  They run from $50 on up!  I had no idea!

On Saturday afternoon we went to see my childhood friend, Ana.  She is one of 8 children - 6 girls and 2 boys.  She is now married and has a daughter of her own and was in from Mexico City visiting her family's San Antonio home.  We took the kids to the pool and enjoyed catching up.  She is the only friend I have known my entire life as our mother's became friends when I was still a baby.  I have such fond memories of spending time with their family.  It is because of hanging out with them that I initially wanted to have 7 or 8 children myself.  I mean talk about instant built in all the time playmates!  When I informed Bret of this when we were engaged, he quickly brought me back to reality.  Now we take children one at a time!

The wedding on Saturday night was really beautiful.  The nuptial mass was held at Our Lady of the Lake University's Convent and the reception was at Sunset Station.  The mass was very traditional and had a very harmonious feel to it.  There was a German men's choir (San Antonio Liederkranz) who sang in Latin so very beautifully.  It was such a reverent feeling to be part of Jill & Jason's nuptial mass.  The reception was stunning with beautiful flower arrangements, delicious food - including San Antonio's gorditas, an awesome band complete with the lady dancers, and an open bar.  Sadly, I didn't enjoy myself nearly as much as I should have.  Why?  Because my doting husband was unavailable for the weekend as he had to put in some serious hours at work.  I had to be the third wheel to two different couples - one who just got married in January (read - we're so in love and make googley eyes into each other) - and the other who is still in the dating/courtship stage (read - we're practically oblivious to others in the room).  Needless to say, the wine, beer and mix drinks were all calling my name.  Okay, kidding.  

On Sunday the kids and I went over to my mom's house for a pancake breakfast.  Isabella was excited to see her Abuelita Sonia and Andrea (my aunt).  Tia Fia joined us for breakfast as well.  We had a lovely visit.  After breakfast we went to Isabella's favorite place, the park.  She made an instant friend with a very talkative almost 4 year old while Diego swung and swung and swung.  My baby loves the swing.  He was delightfully dazed while swinging away - almost to the point of stupor.  What a delightful weekend.  As stated previously though, I was without my hubby, so I was happy to see him again on Sunday evening. 

Adoption Funds

My dear friend, Shannon found this local photographer.  Debra and her family are in the process of adopting a son from Haiti.  All of her photo session monies go toward the adoption fund.  How can you not support her family in something so beautiful?  We booked a session with Debra this week and she was wonderful.  She played with Isabella and won her over.  We opted for a non-traditional, urban setting.  Here are some samplings of the photos taken.

Tres en Agosto

Friend: ?Cuantos anos tienes? (How old are you?)

Isabella: Tres en Agosto (Three in August)

Isabella turned three years old on August 2nd.  This was really confusing because all she would talk about the months preceding August was how she was turning 3 in August.  When we would tell her her birthday was August 2nd, she thought we were telling her she was turning 2.  She would correct us and tell us, "No, I will be 3 in August."

Isabella had a birthday fiesta here at the house this past Saturday.  The fiesta was in full swing with the swing set, water slide, two swimming pools, a slip and slide, beach balls, a pinata and of course chocolate cake.  Isa's dear Uncle Christian was the water master who set up the sprinkler on the slide to make it a water slide.  He rigged this a few months ago and he and Isabella proceeded to play on that water slide for hours.  So, what to do when having a toddler's birthday party at your home?  Set up a water slide of course!  The water slide was by far the biggest hit of the party.  

A close second was the pinata.  My Dad brought a princess pinata with him for Isa's party.  Some of Isa's friends were a little upset that the object of the pinata was to hit the princess.  When she was at last massacred by Uncle Christian, some of her friends (Alexandra, Caleigh) said that the princess was taking a nap.  Isn't that sweet?  The girls quickly got over that the princess was lying on the floor and made a mad dash for the candy. 

This morning we went to Isabella's 3 year check up with the doctor.  She weighed in at 28.5lbs and is 3 feet tall.  She is in the 25% for both.  Thankfully, there were no shots to be had at the three year check up.  We have ourselves a healthy, bright girl.  The doctor drew a triangle, a square and a circle shape on a paper and asked her to name them.  She did so correctly.  I had no idea she knew that as (a) I've never taught her that; and (b) if I have it would have been in Spanish, so I was impressed she knew the terms in English and correctly for all of them!